Pokemon GO Review

Have you ever wanted to be the very best? Like no-one ever was? Is catching them your real test? Or is training them your cause? Pokémon GO is finally available, and so far it seems to be everything we could ever want! Read our Pokemon GO review below to find our more.

The Gist

Pokémon GO finally lets us get out and about in our real surroundings and start capturing those cute little Pocket Monsters to do our bidding. Of course that bidding is to battle!

To put it simply, Pokémon GO works together with GPS to portray a beautifully coloured map of your area, wherever you are. On this map, wild Pokémon will appear that you can attempt to capture by tapping on them. Afterwards you engage and try to fling a Pokéball at them. Then comes the nerve-racking time of watching the Pokéball wobble. If the Pokémon doesn’t escape during these three wobbles, it’s all yours! Congratulations!

By capturing a Pokémon, you are also rewarded with candy and stardust to help increase their CP (Combat Power) and evolve them. By powering up your Pokémon, you can go and take on Gyms located in specific areas around you. If you capture a Gym, you assign a Pokémon to it that others can challenge. If they defeat your defending Pokémon, they end up in control of the Gym.

Something I’m really grateful for in Pokémon GO is, it only includes the original 151 Pokémon (for now). I feel like a bit of an old codger saying this, but back in my day, the original Pokémon were all you needed!

Pokémon GO Is More Than It Seems

You’re going to see a lot of Pidgeys and Rattatas

Having said that, Pokémon GO brings a completely brand new experience to the long-lasting franchise. The main point Pokémon GO focuses on is bringing gamers out of their houses to explore the world around them to find new Pokémon. Not only is this new game giving more people from all generations an extra reason to get out and exercise, but it’s also helping people with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression or agoraphobia get out and socialise. Pokémon GO should win game of the year purely for the fact it’s revolutionised the way we look at gaming and how it can help those diagnosed with such mental health issues.

Of course you have the hardcore gamers saying it’s not that great, because when you see Pokémon in the real world via your device’s camera and with the help of AR (Augmented Reality), it looks a bit shoddy and unrealistic. But putting aside the fact that the Pokémon look a bit unnatural when they’re placed on the ground via AR, the whole reason of getting out and catching them all is enough to make people who previously had trouble facing the world and people in it, leave their homes and socialise with other fellow Pokémon trainers. This in itself is a major victory for the game developers.

But apart from the social aspects of Pokémon GO, the gameplay is actually very solid, enjoyable and addictive. I haven’t felt so compelled to get on my bike and ride for kilometres on end since I was a young Sandshrew. Many other gamers are taking to social media to organise what they call “PokéWalks”, where groups of people gather en masse at designated meetup points in towns and cities to walk together, socialise and play Pokémon GO!

Sure you can catch all the Pokémon you need without leaving your lounge or backyard, but the real fun is in finding the right locations to capture the Pokémon you’re missing from your Pokédex. Just like in the original Pokémon games, certain types of Pokémon are mainly found in areas related to their type. For example, you’re not going to find a Gyarados strolling along in the park (let me know if you have!). Instead you’re more likely to find one swimming around in a lake, or at the beach. Such is the way for rock type, grass type, fire type etc. You’ll have to go to the right locations to give you the best chance of finding all 151 Pokémon.

Continue reading on the next page…

Have you ever wanted to be the very best? Like no-one ever was? Is catching them your real test? Or is training them your cause? Pokémon GO is finally available, and so far it seems to be everything we could ever want!

Pokémon GO Review

Written by: GameReviews AU

Date Published: 07/11/2016

Even if you're not much of a Pokémon fan, Pokémon GO is a game like you've never played before. The only downside is it requires an internet connection. But apart from that, the entire game is wonderful to play, and we can see it's having massive positive influences across the world. Just be careful and stay mindful of your surroundings, and don't trespass on anyone's property!

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